Humor. The Time Ball.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1884, 2 August 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

Humor. The Time Ball.

A lot of merchant; travellers, in New York were watching the time ball, about noon on a day, with their watchss in their hands, betting as to when it would drop. "I've got a watch that never fails me," said one, " and I've got a dollar which saya it will drop in four minutes and a half." "Done," said another; "my watoh says six minutes, and here's my dollar on yours." "Both of you are off," chimed in another. " I've got the regulator, and she says the ball goes down in five minutes.'' " I've got a wktch and two dollars which say she will go down in three minutes and a half," put in a nice little Broadway fellow. " Here's a fiver that says it will go down in three minutes," eacg out a Clanin traveller, in a high collar. " Ah, gentlemen," interrupted a new man, joining the gang, " betting on the ball, eh? Well, 1 don't bet, usually, but I've got fifty dollars in my missionary pocket, that 1 was going to pay my paw rent with, but if I hear no objections, I'll put it up against a like amount, that she doesn't drop in ten minute 3 , !' and he pulled out an old tin watch, with a gate-hinge case on it, and looked into its dirty face in a tender, loving way. The boys gave him the laugh, and covered his pile, and then they all stood and watched the ball, with their time pieces in their hands. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten minutes, and the ball still remained up. " Thunder and lightning ! " shouted all of them at once, except the little man, who remarked, as he stutfed his winnings into his pocket ; " I'm sorry for you, gentlemen, and glad for my pew rent, but, ycu see I'm the party that takes care of the clock, and she's out of repair, and that ball won't drop until next week, unless my men are faster than usual with their work. So long." And hs skipped around the corner befoxe the boys recovered from their astonish" ment. — Merchant Traveller^